WCU to celebrate Homecoming in October

Western Carolina University will celebrate Homecoming 2012 — whose theme is “Tradition Long, Catamount Strong — with a host of activities Oct. 4-7.

•David Dorondo, associate history professor, will deliver the annual “Last Lecture” at 3 p.m. Oct. 4 at the A.K. Hinds University Center theater on the WCU campus.

•The annual Alumni Scholarship Homecoming Golf Tournament tees off with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Oct. 5 at Sequoyah National Golf Club in Cherokee.

•Cheer as community and student floats, WCU cheerleaders, the 2012 Homecoming Court and the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band participate in the Homecoming Parade at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 5 on Main Street in downtown Sylva.

•The Chancellor’s Brunch and Alumni Awards, honoring the WCU Alumni Association award recipients and the university’s Distinguished Service Award recipient, will be held from 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 6, in the Grandroom of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

•After brunch, join the effort to bring back the Cullowhee lily on campus with a 12:30 p.m. ceremonial planting of the flower at the Centennial Garden near the curve in the road above Central Plaza.

•From 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 6, attend an open house at WCU’s new Health and Human Sciences Building, the first on the university’s West Campus.

•Also on Oct. 6, let the tailgating fun begin at noon with food, friends and games prior to kickoff in the parking lots around Whitmire Stadium. Kickoff for the WCU football game versus Georgia Southern University is 3:30 p.m. at Whitmire Stadium/Bob Waters Field.

•Choose from a number of activities after the game, including the African-American Alumni Postgame Reception; a 7 p.m. Catamount volleyball game versus the Wildcats of Davidson College; and at 7 p.m., Stompfest, an annual stepping competition performed by black fraternities and sororities.

•Homecoming activities will come to an end at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 7 with a performance by the Inspirational Choir Concert in the UC Grandroom.